Joshua 9:23 Meaning
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
Context Explained
21And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
Key Themes
Related Cross References
Genesis 9:25
Curses and servitude are themes that echo the curse placed on Canaan's descendants.
Matthew 23:11
Jesus teaches that the greatest among you shall be your servant, contrasting with the curse of servitude.
Galatians 6:7
Reaping what one sows is a principle reflected in the curse placed on the Gibeonites.
Source: Joshua 9:23